Taurians are
gigantic beasts of myth and legend, having on the one hand the head and feet of
a bull and on the other hand the form of a humanoid body. They are mainly known in
Northern Sarvonian lands, namely
at locations like the Celeste Mountains,
where the Kuglimz of this area can
tell a lot of stories about these fierce beasts.

Appearance.
Taurians are usually pictured as standing four to five peds tall, with a torso
and arms that appear human and of hulking
muscle mass, but the head and legs are nothing like that of
humans. The head is bull-like with thick hair and two horns on top of the
head, with sharp teeth for ripping and shredding meat. The legs also seem like
that of a bull, with the muscular and strong jointed legs similar to their
bullish brethren, and cloven hooves covered in the same thick hair as the head.

Image description.A well known figure of myth
in Northern Sarvonian lands, especially the region around the Celeste
Mountains: the Taurian. Illustration drawn by Seeker.

In most
depictions they are very vicious and imposing figures, with eyes that gleam a
threatening red and nostrils usually snorting steam as they are ready to charge. All
depictions show them with what appears to be extensive tattooing over their
chests, though these might just be birthmarks.
Some frescoes depict these beasts
wearing no clothing (especially near volcanoes), but other battle-oriented
diptychs show these beasts in armor. Some depictions show the Taurian also wearing
things from loincloths to elaborate outfits, but it varies far too much to
create a substantial theory. Weapons are not needed by these beasts as their
strength seems overwhelming, but if
supplied with them, they would probably use basic
weapons such as clubs and
swords.

Special Abilities.
From all of the stories and pictures it seems that the Taurians don't have much
special about them, aside from their odd appearance. However, if you look hard
enough you'll find tales about the great stamina of the Taurians, who would
charge through battle pouring blood and mowing down those in their path. There
are also obscure fables of how the Taurians would live among the heat and fire
of places such as volcanoes without even a hair being burnt. Their best known
abilities are those of unbelievable strength and courage, doing as commanded
without faltering even in the face of death. Though these can be disputed; as
some believe these creatures are nothing more than distorted freaks of nature with
only instinct to guide them.

They have no special technical skill or fighting style other than their murderous and
rage-filled instinct.

Territory.
According to myth, Taurians lived on, and possibly in, volcanoes at former
times. Aside from that, there are also tales of them being captured and taken
into slavery. They were said to be very loyal after training, and would go
wherever their master told them to. Nearly every region in
Northern Sarvonia, has some myth or old
wives' tale about Taurians, or at least things that sound similar to them. This
is especially true at the region around the
Celeste Mountains.

Habitat/Behaviour.
Most tales tell of wild Taurians' bestial tendencies. They would fight for
dominance over packs, much like wolves, sometimes butting heads in a contest of
stamina, or wrestling in a contest of strength. As servants they were said to be
loyal, and in battle unwavering, but their most widely recognized behavior is
their rage. Almost all myths and depictions involving Taurians in battle show
them with murderous red eyes, charging and slaughtering people without mercy,
driven into a blind rage by one thing or another. This has, undoubtedly,
heightened the view of them as barbarians and beastly animals.

Diet.
Taurians are said to eat only one thing, and that is meat. It is said they would
scour the foothills of volcanoes and snatch up little furry critters, ripping
them apart viciously with tooth and claw, shredding and swallowing what raw meat
they could find. On top of that there are also tales of Taurians feasting on
human meat, scooping
people up in battle and simply sinking their teeth into human
flesh, or gathering up what living people there were afterwards and consuming
them. This also led to many being sculpted and painted with skulls hanging from
their belts when going into battle. Whether they actually did this or not in
ancient times, is
impossible to say.

Mating.
There are very few fables involving Taurian mating; some contest that females
do not exist, as stories and images of female Taurians are few and far between.
The majority of Taurian mating tales tell of how the beasts would pillage
villages after battle and rape the women, creating deformed still-born children.
There are a few obscure myths, however, of how Taurians are made. It is said
they burst forth fully grown from volcanic boulders, coming from the mix of Earth
and Fire that
characterizes their physical prowess and their short temper.

Myth/Lore.
Myths and depictions of Taurians are numerous, if you look in the right place.
It would take years to write them all down, but there are a few excerpts that paint
an excellent picture of Taurians.

One is the myth of the Battle of Terrin Mount,
a great volcano now said to be under the seas. It tells of how a powerful
warlord is overthrown by a soldier with vicious Taurian mercenaries rented to
him by a friend. The battle was said to be fierce, a dozen enraged Taurians
against an army. It tells of how they cut a bloody swath through the army and
breaking down a section of the powerful fortress wall with their raw unbridled
strength. There is a painting called "The Lord of Terrin" which shows
an astounding example of a Taurian raising up the head of a man, supposedly the
warlord, who ruled the fortress on Terrin Mount, on a spear.

There is also the
popular myth of Grrikek, a unique Taurian who managed to unite several packs and
claim a volcano and the surrounding land for himself, actually subjugating
villages of humans and
using them as slaves. Most consider that myth, however, completely implausible,
though still a joy to listen to, especially when the humans
rise up against the Taurians and take back their land.

The majority of myths, however, paint the Taurians as barbaric, cruel, and stupid,
or let's say: very simple-minded.